Wireless ic device and electromagnetic coupling module

ABSTRACT

A wireless IC device includes a wireless IC chip, a feeder circuit substrate which is coupled to the wireless IC chip and includes a feeder circuit including an inductance element, and a radiation plate. The inductance element includes a plurality of stacked layers having coil conductors electrically connected, and a coil conductor electrically connected in a middle portion of the inductance element is arranged at an end position in the coil axis direction and faces a coupling portion of the radiation plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wireless IC devices. In particular, the present invention relates to a wireless IC device used in an RFID (radio frequency identification) system and to an electromagnetic coupling module included in the wireless IC device.

2. Description of the Related Art

An RFID system has been developed and used as an article management system. The RFID system includes a reader/writer that generates an induction field and communicates in a non-contact manner with an IC tag (also referred to as a wireless IC device) which stores specific information and is attached to an article. Thus, information is transmitted between the reader/writer and the IC tag. A wireless IC device used in such an RFID system is disclosed in PCT International Publication WO2009/081719. As illustrated in FIG. 11A, a wireless IC device includes two inductance elements L1 and L2 (helically connected coil conductors) that are electrically connected to a wireless IC chip 10 and electromagnetically coupled to radiation plates 30A and 30B.

However, in the above-described wireless IC device, coil conductors on the bottom layer which face the radiation plates 30A and 30B are arranged in the vicinity of connection points to the wireless IC chip 10 having a high impedance, as illustrated in FIG. 11B. Such arrangement increases the impedance of the inductance elements L1 and L2, which makes it difficult to ensure impedance matching between the wireless IC chip 10 and the radiation plates 30A and 30B. In FIG. 11B, the connection point X of the inductance elements L1 and L2 serves as a virtual ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless IC device and an electromagnetic coupling module which provide desirable impedance matching between a wireless IC and a radiation plate through an inductance element and improve the efficiency of energy transmission between a feeder circuit and the radiation plate.

A wireless IC device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a wireless IC, a feeder circuit which is coupled to the wireless IC and includes an inductance element, and a radiation plate which is coupled to the inductance element. The radiation plate radiates a transmission signal supplied from the feeder circuit and/or supplies a reception signal to the feeder circuit. The inductance element includes a plurality of stacked layers including electrically connected coil conductors. A coil conductor electrically connected in a middle portion of the inductance element is arranged at an end position in a coil axis direction and faces the radiation plate.

An electromagnetic coupling module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a wireless IC and a feeder circuit substrate having a feeder circuit including an inductance element coupled to the wireless IC. The inductance element includes a plurality of stacked layers including electrically connected coil conductors. A coil conductor electrically connected in a middle portion of the inductance element is arranged at an end position in a coil axis direction.

The wireless IC device and the electromagnetic coupling module according to the preferred embodiments include a electrically connected coil conductor in a middle portion of the inductance element coupled to the wireless IC. The coil conductor is arranged at an end position in the coil axis direction. When the middle portion is coupled to a radiation plate, the radiation plate is coupled in the vicinity of the virtual ground of the inductance element where the impedance is low (a large magnetic field is present). This arrangement provides desirable impedance matching between the wireless IC and the radiation plate and thus improves the efficiency of energy transmission between the feeder circuit and the radiation plate.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, desirable impedance matching between a wireless IC and a radiation plate is achieved with an inductance element, and the efficiency of energy transmission between a feeder circuit and the radiation plate is improved.

The above and other features, elements, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a wireless IC device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a feeder circuit substrate included in a wireless IC device according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrating a feeder circuit and radiation plates according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A schematically illustrates coupling between inductance elements and radiation plates according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B schematically illustrates a virtual ground of inductance elements and radiation plates.

FIG. 5 is an exploded plan view illustrating a stacked structure of a feeder circuit substrate according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a wireless IC device according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A to 7F illustrate coupling between a feeder circuit and radiation plates.

FIG. 8 is an exploded plan view illustrating a stacked structure of a feeder circuit substrate according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating coupling between an inductance element and a radiation plate according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an exploded plan view illustrating a stacked structure of a feeder circuit substrate according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view illustrating coupling between inductance elements and radiation plates according to the related art.

FIG. 11B schematically illustrates a virtual ground of the inductance elements and radiation plates according to the related art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A wireless IC device and a coupling method according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

First Preferred Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless IC device according to the first preferred embodiment includes a wireless IC chip 10 arranged to process a transmission/reception signal having a predetermined frequency, a feeder circuit substrate 20 on which the wireless IC chip 10 is mounted, and two radiation plates 30A and 30B.

The feeder circuit substrate 20 includes a feeder circuit 21 having a resonant circuit/matching circuit including inductance elements that have substantially the same inductance and are helically wound in the same direction. The winding axes of the inductance elements L1 and L2 are arranged at different positions in plan view.

The wireless IC chip 10 may preferably include circuits such as a clock circuit, a logic circuit, and a memory circuit and stores necessary information. A pair of input/output terminal electrodes and a pair of mounting terminal electrodes (not illustrated) are provided on the bottom surface of the wireless IC chip 10. Referring to FIG. 2, the input/output terminal electrodes are electrically connected to feeding terminal electrodes 122 a and 122 b provided on the feeder circuit substrate 20 through metal bumps or the like. The mounting terminal electrodes are electrically connected to mounting electrodes 123 a and 123 b provided on the feeder circuit substrate 20 through metal bumps or the like.

The wireless IC chip 10 and the feeder circuit substrate 20 are thus integrated into a single module. This module is hereinafter referred to as an electromagnetic coupling module 5. Note that the wireless IC chip 10 and the feeder circuit 21 may not be electrically connected to each other and may instead be electromagnetically coupled to each other.

Each of the radiation plates 30A and 30B preferably has a meandering shape and is arranged on a flexible resin film (not illustrated). The radiation plates 30A and 30B are preferably composed of a non-magnetic metal material. One end of the radiation plate 30A is a coupling portion 31 a and one end of the radiation plate 30B is a coupling portion 31 b. The feeder circuit substrate 20 is attached onto the coupling portions 31 a and 31 b. Specifically, the coupling portions 31 a and 31 b are arranged in the vicinity of the inductance elements L1 and L2, respectively, so as to be perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the coil axes of the respective inductance elements L1 and L2. Note that the radiation plates 30A and 30B may be composed of a single conductive material forming a loop. In this case, the opposite ends of the loop may serve as the coupling portions 31 a and 31 b.

The inductance elements L1 and L2 included in the feeder circuit 21 are magnetically coupled to each other to resonate with a frequency processed by the wireless IC chip 10 and are also magnetically coupled (or electrically coupled) to the coupling portions 31 a and 31 b, respectively, of the radiation plates 30A and 30B. The feeder circuit 21 serves to match the impedance of the wireless IC chip 10 and the impedance of the radiation plates 30A and 30B, which will be described below.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A and FIG. 5, the inductance elements L1 and L2 preferably include a plurality of layers including electrically connected coil conductors 131 a to 131 e, 132, and 133 a to 133 e. The coil conductors 131 c and 133 c electrically connected in middle portions of the respective inductance elements L1 and L2 are arranged at end positions in the coil axis direction and face the coupling portions 31 a and 31 b of the radiation plates 30A and 30B, respectively.

FIG. 4B schematically illustrates the coupling between the inductance element L1 and the radiation plate 30A and the coupling between the inductance element L2 and the radiation plate 30B. In FIG. 4B, the point X at which the ends of the inductance elements L1 and L2 are connected serves as a virtual ground. The impedance is minimized at the virtual ground. In contrast, the impedance of the inductance elements L1 and L2 is maximized at the points connected to the wireless IC chip 10. In the first preferred embodiment, the coil conductors 131 c and 133 c electrically connected in the middle portions near the virtual ground (at which the impedance is minimized, that is, a large magnetic field is present) of the inductance elements L1 and L2 are electromagnetically coupled to the radiation plates 30A and 30B, respectively. Accordingly, impedances are matched suitably between the wireless IC chip 10 having a high impedance and the radiation plates 30A and 30B having a low impedance. As a result, the efficiency of energy transmission between the feeder circuit 21 and the radiation plates 30A and 30B is improved.

In the first preferred embodiment, the feeder circuit 21 transmits a transmission signal having a predetermined frequency transmitted by the wireless IC chip 10 to the radiation plates 30A and 30B. The feeder circuit 21 also selects a reception signal having a predetermined frequency from among signals received by the radiation plates 30A and 30B and supplies the selected signal to the wireless IC chip 10. Thus, in the wireless IC device, the wireless IC chip 10 is activated by a signal received by the radiation plates 30A and 30B and a response signal from the wireless IC chip 10 is radiated outward from the radiation plates 30A and 30B.

As described above, in the wireless IC device, a signal frequency is set in the feeder circuit 21 provided to the feeder circuit substrate 20. Therefore, the wireless IC device can operate directly when attached to various types of articles, and variations in radiation characteristics can be prevented. There is no need to make design changes to the radiation plates 30A and 30B or the like for the individual articles. The frequency of a transmission signal to be transmitted from the radiation plates 30A and 30B and the frequency of a reception signal to be supplied to the wireless IC chip 10 are substantially equal to a resonant frequency of the feeder circuit 21 on the feeder circuit substrate 20. The maximum gain of each signal substantially depends on at least one of the size or shape of the radiation plates 30A and 30B, distance between the feeder circuit 21 and the radiation plates 30A and 30B, and media of the feeder circuit and the radiation plates 30A and 30B. Since a frequency of a transmission/reception signal is determined by the feeder circuit substrate 20, the shape, size, position, and the like of the radiation plates 30A and 30B do not affect the frequency. For example, even if the wireless IC device is rolled up or sandwiched between dielectric materials, frequency characteristics are not changed and can be made stable.

An example of a stacked structure of the feeder circuit substrate 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The feeder circuit substrate 20 is preferably composed of ceramic sheets 121 a to 121 f made of a dielectric material or a magnetic material which are stacked, press-bonded, and fired, for example. The feeding terminal electrodes 122 a and 122 b, the mounting electrodes 123 a and 123 b, and via hole conductors 141 a and 141 o are formed on the sheet 121 a of the top layer. Coil conductors 131 a to 131 e, 132, and 133 a to 133 e, and via hole conductors 141 b to 141 n are formed on the sheets 121 b to 121 f.

The inductance elements L1 and L2 are formed by helically connecting the coil conductors 131 a to 131 e, 132, and 133 a to 133 e through the via hole conductors 141 c to 141 n. The inductance elements L1 and L2 are connected to each other through the coil conductor 132 on the sheet 121 b. Specifically, an end of the coil conductor 131 a on the sheet 121 b is connected to the feeding terminal electrode 122 a through the via hole conductor 141 a, and an end of the coil conductor 133 e on the sheet 121 b is connected to the feeding terminal electrode 122 b through the via hole conductor 141 o. Further, as described above, the coil conductors 131 c and 133 c on the sheet 121 f of the bottom layer are electrically connected in middle portions of the inductance elements L1 and L2 and face the radiation plates 30A and 30B.

Second Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 6 illustrates a wireless IC device according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The wireless IC device preferably has basically the same configuration as the wireless IC device illustrated in FIG. 1. The wireless IC device according to the second preferred embodiment is different from the wireless IC device illustrated in FIG. 1 in that inductance elements L1 and L2 incorporated in a feeder circuit substrate 20 have different configurations and one end of a radiation plate 30A and one end of a radiation plate 30B are plate-shaped coupling portions 31 a and 31 b, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the feeder circuit substrate 20 has a feeder circuit 21 including a resonant circuit/matching circuit including the inductance elements L1 and L2 that have substantially the same inductance and are helically wound in opposite directions. The winding axes of the inductance elements L1 and L2 are arranged at different positions in plan view. The feeder circuit substrate 20 is attached onto the plate-shaped coupling portions 31 a and 31 b, which are the ends of the radiation plates 30A and 30B, respectively. That is, the plate-shaped coupling portions 31 a and 31 b are arranged in the vicinity of the inductance elements L1 and L2, respectively, so as to be orthogonal to the respective winding axes of the inductance elements L1 and L2.

The inductance elements L1 and L2 included in the feeder circuit 21 are magnetically coupled in opposite phases. The inductance elements L1 and L2 resonate with a frequency processed by the wireless IC chip 10 and are coupled to the coupling portions 31 a and 31 b of the radiation plates 30A and 30B by the action of eddy currents, which will be described below. The feeder circuit 21 serves to match impedances between the wireless IC chip 10 and the radiation plates 30A and 30B. The inductance elements L1 and L2 may have different inductances or may have substantially the same inductance. If the inductance elements L1 and L2 have substantially the same inductance, leakage of a magnetic field in a closed loop can be reduced and coupling loss can be suppressed.

The coupling between the feeder circuit 21 and the radiation plates 30A and 30B will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7F. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the inductance elements L1 and L2 are wound in opposite directions and have opposite current paths. Thus, the inductance elements L1 and L2 generate opposite magnetic fields and no distant field, and therefore the feeder circuit substrate 20 does not function as an antenna. Since the inductance elements L1 and L2 are wound in opposite directions, the magnetic field defines a single closed loop and does not leak to the outside, as illustrated in FIG. 7B. Thus, unlike in typical magnetic coupling, no energy, except for the energy used for coupling, can be released.

As illustrated in FIG. 7C, the magnetic fields generated by the inductance elements L1 and L2 are applied perpendicularly to the plate-shaped coupling portions 31 a and 31B that respectively face the inductance elements L1 and L2. As a result, an eddy current A occurs in each of the coupling portions 31 a and 31 b, as illustrated in FIG. 7D. The eddy currents flow in opposite directions in the plate-shaped coupling portions 31 a and 31 b that are arranged adjacent to each other. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 7E, the eddy currents produce a magnetic field defining a single closed loop, which yields a secondary magnetic field B making the plate-shaped coupling portions 31 a and 31 b attract each other. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 7F, electrons for neutralizing the magnetic field flow from an end of the secondary magnetic field B to the other end thereof. Thus, even when the radiation plates 30A and 30B are separated from each other, a current flows in and out of the adjacent plate-shaped coupling portions 31 a and 31 b from the outside, and a current flows through the radiation plates 30A and 30B.

Note that the radiation plates 30A and 30B may be made of a single conductor which defines a loop. The coupling that utilizes eddy currents is not affected by the line length of a radiation plate. In addition, coupling efficiency is unaffected by the form of the radiation plate, whether separated into two plates or made to be a loop. However, if the line length of each of the radiation plates 30A and 30B is λ/4 (the entire line length is λ/2), resonance conditions are satisfied, voltage is maximized and current is minimized at the end portions, and a current flows more easily through the radiation plate.

That is, with the magnetic fields formed by the adjacent eddy currents, the eddy currents originate from the opposing plate-shaped coupling portions 31 a and 31 b and flow through the radiation plates 30A and 30B. Thus, unlike in typical magnetic coupling or electrical coupling, a magnetic field is directed perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the plate-shaped coupling portions 31 a and 31 b, which dynamically generates eddy currents. Consequently, energy for supplying a current through the radiation plates 30A and 30B originates from the adjacent eddy currents. Such transmission (coupling) of energy is realized when plates are arranged perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to a pair of oppositely wound coils and eddy currents flow in the plates. Therefore, energy is not transmitted through radiation plates when a plate-shaped coupling portion is arranged at only one of the inductance elements L1 and L2.

Also in the second preferred embodiment, the wireless IC chip 10 is activated by a signal received by the radiation plates 30A and 30B, and a response signal is radiated from the wireless IC chip 10 outward from the radiation plates 30A and 30B, similarly to the first preferred embodiment. In addition, the radiation plates 30A and 30B are electromagnetically coupled to the coil conductors in the middle portions of the inductance elements L1 and L2 which are arranged near the virtual ground, at which the impedance is minimized, that is, a large magnetic field is present. This arrangement can provide desirable matching between the wireless IC chip 10 having a high impedance and the radiation plate 30A and 30B having a low impedance. As a result, the efficiency of energy transmission between the feeder circuit 21 and the radiation plates 30A and 30B can be improved. Other operation and effects in the second preferred embodiment are similar to those in the first preferred embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 8, an example of a stacked structure of the feeder circuit substrate 20 will be described. The feeder circuit substrate 20 includes ceramic sheets 181 a to 181 f preferably made of a dielectric material or a magnetic material that are stacked, press-bonded, and fired. Feeding terminal electrodes 122 a and 122 b, mounting electrodes 123 a and 123 b and via hole conductors 195 a and 195 o are provided on the sheet 181 a of the top layer. Coil conductors 191 a to 191 e, 192, and 193 a to 193 e, and via hole conductors 195 b to 195 n are provided on the sheets 181 b to 181 f.

The inductance elements L1 and L2 are preferably formed by helically connecting the coil conductors 191 a to 191 e, 192, and 193 a to 193 e through the via hole conductors 195 c to 195 n. The inductance elements L1 and L2 are connected to each other through the coil conductor 192 on the sheet 181 b. An end of the coil conductor 191 a on the sheet 181 b is connected to the feeding terminal electrode 122 a through the via hole conductor 195 a, and an end of the coil conductor 193 e on the sheet 181 b is connected to the feeding terminal electrode 122 b through the via hole conductor 195 o. Further, as described above, the coil conductors 191 c and 193 c on the sheet 181 f of the bottom layer are electrically connected in the middle portions of the inductance elements L1 and L2 and face the radiation plates 30A and 30B.

Third Preferred Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 9, a wireless IC device according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention has basically the same structure as the wireless IC device illustrated in FIG. 1. The wireless IC device according to the third preferred embodiment is different from the wireless IC device in FIG. 1 in that a feeder circuit 21 has a single inductance element L.

The inductance element L preferably includes a plurality of layers having electrically connected coil conductors 161 a to 161 e. The coil conductor 161 c electrically connected in a middle portion of the inductance element L is arranged at an end position in the coil axis direction and faces a coupling portion 31 of a radiation plate 30.

Both ends of the inductance element L are electrically connected to input/output terminal electrodes of a wireless IC chip 10. The magnetic field is largest and the impedance is minimized at the coil conductor 161 c in the middle portion. In the third preferred embodiment, the radiation plate 30 is electromagnetically coupled to the coil conductor 161 c in the middle portion where the impedance of the inductance element L is minimized, that is, a large magnetic field is present. This arrangement can suitably match impedances between the wireless IC chip 10 having a high impedance and the radiation plate having a low impedance. As a result, the efficiency of energy transmission between the feeder circuit 21 and the radiation plate 30 is improved. The other operations and effects are similar to those in the first preferred embodiment described above.

Referring to FIG. 10, an example of a stacked structure of the feeder circuit substrate 20 will be described. The feeder circuit substrate 20 includes ceramic sheets 151 a to 151 f made of a dielectric material or a magnetic material that are stacked, press-bonded, and fired. Feeding terminal electrodes 122 a and 122 b, mounting electrodes 123 a and 123 b, and via hole conductors 171 a and 171 h are provided on the sheet 151 a of the top layer. Coil conductors 161 a to 161 e and via hole conductors 171 b to 171 g are provided on the sheets 151 b to 151 f.

The inductance element L is preferably formed by helically connecting the coil conductors 161 a to 161 e through the via hole conductors 171 b to 171 f. An end of the coil conductor 161 a on the sheet 151 b is connected to the feeding terminal electrode 122 a through the via hole conductor 171 a, and an end of the coil conductor 161 e on the sheet 151 d is connected to the feeding terminal electrode 122 b through the via hole conductors 171 g and 171 h. The coil conductor 161 c on the sheet 151 f of the bottom layer is electrically connected in the middle portion of the inductance element L, faces the radiation plate 30, and is magnetically coupled to the radiation plate 30.

Other Preferred Embodiments

A wireless IC device and an electromagnetic coupling module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention are not limited to the preferred embodiments described above, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention.

For example, the wireless IC is not limited to a chip type IC and may be integrated into a feeder circuit substrate. Radiation plates in various shapes may be used. Further, while a coil axis of an inductance element is preferably arranged perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the wireless IC in the above preferred embodiments, the coil axis may be arranged parallel or substantially parallel to the wireless IC.

As described above, a preferred embodiment of the present invention can advantageously be applied to a wireless IC device and an electromagnetic coupling module. In particular, the present invention is advantageous in providing desirable impedance matching between a wireless IC and a radiation plate and improving the efficiency of energy transmission between a feeder circuit and the radiation plate.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims. 

1. (canceled)
 2. An electromagnetic coupling module comprising: a wireless IC; and a feeder circuit substrate including a feeder circuit including an inductance element coupled to the wireless IC; wherein the inductance element includes a plurality of stacked layers including coil conductors that are electrically connected to one another provided thereon; the coil conductors include first, second, third and fourth coil conductors connected in series in this order to one another; the first coil conductor and the second coil conductor are coaxial with one another; the third coil conductor and the fourth coil conductor are coaxial with one another; the second coil conductor and the third coil conductor are disposed on a side of the inductance element at which the wireless IC is coupled thereto, and the first coil conductor and the fourth coil conductor are disposed on a side of the inductance element opposite to the side of the inductance element at which the wireless IC is coupled thereto.
 3. The electromagnetic coupling module of claim 2, wherein the wireless IC and the inductance element are electrically coupled to each other.
 4. The electromagnetic coupling module of claim 2, wherein the feeder circuit includes two inductance elements, the two inductance elements being electrically connected to each other at end portions thereof in a coil axis direction of the two inductance elements.
 5. The electromagnetic coupling module of claim 4, wherein the two inductance elements are each helically wound in opposite directions. 